Steve McCabe MP calls on Chancellor to cut beer duty

Steve McCabe MP for Birmingham, Selly Oak has joined calls to cut beer duty by sending a special ‘Message in a Barrel’, to the Chancellor.

Steve posted his message in the handcrafted barrel, specially made by Yorkshire brewer Theakston’s, alongside almost 50 other MPs. The Barrel was delivered by representatives from the British Beer & Pub Association, the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA)

The three cuts in beer duty over the past three Budgets have proved a massive boost for brewing and pubs in the UK, resulting in more affordable beer and millions of pounds of investment in pubs.

However, there is still more that can be done. Beer tax in the UK remains far higher than that neighbouring European countries. In Germany, for example, the rate of tax on beer is some thirteen times lower than here in the UK. British beer drinkers pay almost 40 % of all the beer tax in the EU despite only drinking 12% of the beer. Brewing and pubs make a massive contribution to the UK economy. As a sector it supports almost 900,000 jobs across the country and contributes £22bn to UK GDP.

Beer tax cuts are also popular with the public – a recent YouGov poll for the BBPA shows that 72 per cent support a cut or freeze in beer duty in the Budget.

Steve McCabe MP:

“I am very pleased to join calls for the Chancellor to implement another cut in beer duty in the upcoming budget. Britain’s pubs and beer industry play a vital role in generating revenue and employment across the country. The 15 pubs in my constituency employ over 550 people both directly and indirectly, and serve hundreds of customers each day. It is vital that we support our hardworking breweries and publicans as much as possible. A further cut in beer duty will help keep our local pubs open and thriving.”